[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

I was going to say the same about the software update… the last one came out almost 3 MONTHS ago which is far too long for a new product like this with this many bugs and weird UI elements. I really expected more updates more often.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Where in the world do you get the idea it needs charging every week? You’re thinking of the Halo which because of bad software and a tiny battery lasts only days.

The physical BR1 is HUGE, they could fit a giant battery in there if they wanted to.

My Apple TV remote is 1/10 the size of the BR1, I use it every day for hours on and off. I can also play games with it. I charge the battery every 8 months tops.

A tiny screen like on the BR1 that only activates for short periods should last a very long time.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Does anyone have the artwork above in high res?

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

etype76 wrote:

I’m glad there’s no charger, cables, connectors or other broccoli (unnecessary paraphernalia) with the remote.

Ya just 4 pieces and a tool to change a battery. Must better than a USB C port that is in every house already.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Im planning on getting a MK3 with a new laser so fingers crossed.

What are those disks you have? are those CD-R with that pattern or did you print custom decals? They look awesome.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Ok so I got the BR1 remote when I got the Theatre end of Oct. I find it to be a terrible remote so I never use it. Maybe once a week to change the volume at best. The battery ran out today at 3 months. The fact that we are in 2023 and this thing isn’t rechargeable or have motion detection so it always lights up the screen AND keys is crazy. Well… off to find that tiny tool so I can take the remote apart into 5 pieces to change a battery…

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

There already is a long thread on this topic here so prob best to merge.

https://beoworld.dev.idslogic.net/forums/topic/new-product-launch-beosound-theatre

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

I do iOS development but I understand how hard it can be. 🙂 They should really be pushing out bug fixes in the FIRMWARE more often though. The OS interface enhancements can wait for every month or 2.

The theatre was originally to be shipped Q2 last year and they delayed it for component reasons. In that time they did get the software in good shape for the new release date but there are some really glaring bugs still in it.

Maybe the Christmas break slowed things down as well but I really hope things pick up.

 

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

I have to say I am a bit surprised and disappointed on how slow the app and firmware updates have been for the Theatre. There are plenty of issues and UI elements that need fixing and they should really be faster at fixing these things.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Millemissen wrote:

@SimonWeir I am also still on the initial Theatre SW (and not on beta). You write about the LG update. It was offered today to me too, however I thanked no, since we just sat down to watch a movie. What is in that update – something worth mentioning for a Theatre owner? MM

The LG applies the update when you turn it OFF. It won’t download and reboot on the spot.

It apparently fixes some dolby vision problems which should be of help when watching content on the theatre.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Gaea wrote:

Is there something wrong with re-encoding?

Well there are downsides yes. Your NAS has a have a decent CPU that can convert things on the fly and skipping forward or back will cause lag and delays.

If this is something that bothers you AppleTV and Infuse would be a better experience.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

For those of us here with a NAS such as Synology with a “backup” of your movie files… Don’t bother using Plex as it has to re-encode on the fly. Instead just install the app INFUSE to your Apple TV and it will play all the files natively and create a beautiful Netflix like interface of your video files.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Again the consensus is that the Halo is useful if you more than DOUBLE the cost of it with the BLI. The point I was making as a product on its own its extremely underdeveloped and expensive for what you get.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

TWG wrote:

I’m very happy that Bang & Olufsen was wise enough to choose a LCD instead of OLED display. That way it is ensured that the product will be usable and survive much longer. OLED displays (yes, todays modern OLED displays, too) tend to burn in, dim out etc. while LCDs can last for decades!

Phones which have been OLED today which are on for 10 hours a day with static images still look good from 2013. Same goes with monitors and tv’s with hours and hours of static and moving content a day. Not a chance the halo would be on more than a few minutes a day and software shifts UI elements to not cause any burn in.

It’s cute to think the Halo will last decades, the battery won’t nor the charging port. After less than a year usage many people report the wheel not rotating fluid as before. I already have issues with my wheel after a month.

I want to love the halo but it needs a major revision in hardware and software for this price point.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

I was one of the first people to get it in Canada at oct 30th. I have plenty of B&O speakers but none of the music centres. I was REALY worried that with B&O’s really bad software track record (Halo, moment, etc) it would be a bleeding edge disaster at launch. I was coming from a Marantz and Harmony setup which worked rather smoothy and 99% reliably with minimum interaction. Since I was selling all my old equipment when the theatre arrived I thought things might be bad enough that I would be left with a buggy mess of a setup.

However I was very pleasantly surprised from the first setup. Basically besides some hidden settings everything was smooth. The only hardware bug I had was it wouldn’t see my 3rd party sub, lucky turns out I didn’t need a sub.

Im really impressed with the auto detection on the Theatre. It senses the input and material (movie vs game) and automatically applies the correct sound presets.

The audio up-conversion is also much better than I expected and better than my Marantz.

Right now my only pain points are some software bugs and interface problems. My theatre seems to crash every couple days needing a power cycle. The software is still messier than it should be.

My ONLY real disappointment with it is the music performance. Movies sound really full and amazing with great clean bass. But when I listen to any music no matter the source it sounds really bla and flat. Only if I crank the bass equalizer to +8 does it sound good but that setting is much too high for movies. Im hoping this is a bug but im not optimistic.

Overall I highly recommend the theatre even in its current state.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

For me the words that comes to mind when I use my Halo for the last 3 months is: SAD MISSED POTENTIAL.

Hardware:

1. The battery life is horrible at 1-3 days. They could have easily fit a bigger battery or create more intelligent power management abilities.
2. The screen should be OLED especially for the price. If it was OLED you wouldn’t know where the screen ended and bezel began, and save battery. It should also be in colour to show your music artwork.
3. The off centre logo in the motion sensor looks sloppy

Software:

1. It’s dumb as dirt. It’s basically a glorified remote for music. That is unless you get the Beoliving intelligence which costs more than the Halo.
2. Why can’t think do everything my iOS device in terms of just the B&O app and maybe some home automation? Is it because the CPU and OS on the halo is super basic and it can’t do as much as an album cover? Is that why you need the intelligence just to turn the light off?
3. The software isn’t intuitive. Lots of totally hidden gestures like swipe from top/bottom and they aren’t even consistent. No why for casual user to figure that out.

Long story short if the halo came with OR just had the intelligence built in for the same price it would actually be a pretty good product. Not for non-advanced users but for the price it is now (same as iPad Pro which kills it in every way other than a volume wheel) I would be happy.

For now it’s super over priced and extremely limited. Worst part is when B&O released it they mentioned they wanted it to be the hub of your smart home and software updates were coming. It’s been 2 years and still waiting. Don’t think its coming either again without the expensive intelligence.

Sad 🙁

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

I think that would be the opposite of what the user experience of the halo is intended to be. If you have a clock taking over the screen when you approach then you would have to have a user interaction to dismiss the clock. Even if that is a tap or a swipe it’s the same as having a dedicated iPad or phone at that point. The great thing about the halo is the motion detector so it essentially saves you the step of a unlock or activation.

This is one of the only 2 advantages the halo has over the alternatives.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

My dealer confirmed there is a MKII last October with minor changes but he didn’t know exactly when it was coming out.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

Weird I’m not seeing the update in TestFlight or the public app.

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

You have to use SHIELDED cables or it will get lots of interference.

Honestly I wouldn’t put yourself through the trouble. I got dirt cheap Shielded cat 7 cables on amazon and they work perfectly.

https://www.amazon.ca/

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